Bonds

Long-term education debt reached its highest levels on record in 2020, the most recent data sample available, reaching $505 billion. That’s highlighted in Reason Foundation’s recent K-12 Education Spending Spotlight, which leans on U.S. Census Bureau data to show long-term debt has reached its highest level since the organization began releasing the report in 2002.

A deluge of ratepayer-backed utility debt in the wake of 2021’s Winter Storm Uri continues with a Kansas regulator approving the state’s first securitization deal. The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) on Thursday unanimously passed an irrevocable financing order allowing Kansas Gas Service to issue securitized bonds to recover $328 million in costs incurred during the

Municipals closed out the week with more weakness with yields rising up to 10 basis points on the short end of the yield curve, following U.S. Treasuries to higher yields while equities ended down. The one-year triple-A benchmark saw smaller cuts with yields rising up to four basis points, depending on the scale, while two-,

S&P Global Ratings Friday revised its outlook to positive from stable on New Jersey general obligation bonds. The rating agency highlighted the state government’s recent payments to its underfunded state pension system. “The outlook revision follows the second consecutive year the state has budgeted the full annual actuarially determined contribution to its retirement systems,” S&P

Two rating agencies cut Hazelwood, Missouri’s ratings this month as the city remains locked in a battle with a fire protection district over the cost for services that city officials have warned could lead to Chapter 9 bankruptcy. Fiscal problems city leaders blame on the dispute with the Robertson Fire Protection District came to a

Municipals were weaker again Thursday led by continued pressure on the short end while municipal bond mutual funds saw outflows for the second consecutive week. Triple-A yield curves saw cuts of up to nine basis points on bonds five years and in, depending on the curve, while U.S. Treasuries made small gains to close out

A county judge declined to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority’s extension plan at the same time the OTA asked the state supreme court to validate bonds for the project. The ruling was the first in either of two lawsuits seeking to block OTA from building certain extensions as part of its bond-financed

Municipals sold off Wednesday with the largest losses up front, pushing the one-year triple-A yield well above 2%, the first time since March 2020. U.S. Treasuries were weaker and equities ended down. U.S. Treasuries started the day with large losses after higher inflation numbers out of Europe led to volatility early on but they pared

After a nearly 30-year vacation from the bond markets, the Western Placer Waste Management Authority, California, returns next week with $97 million of solid waste revenue bonds. S&P Global Ratings assigned an AA rating to the deal. The $88.4 million Series 2022A bonds have a self-designated green label — without third-party verification — affixed, while

Municipals were weaker Tuesday as short-end munis continued to sell off, U.S. Treasuries were weaker 10 years and in and equities were mixed. Triple-A muni yields rose nine to 12 basis points in one-year, further inverting the curve on the short end. Heavy secondary trading on the short end moved one-year triple-A yields as much

Infrastructure projects delivered as public-private partnerships have so far been protected from punishing construction cost increases because the contractors are legally on the hook for cost overruns and have been healthy enough to absorb the blows. But inflation, coupled with material and labor shortages, are prompting some contractors to exit the space, and accelerating a

Short-end munis extended their days long selloff, continuing to play catch up to short-end U.S. Treasuries, as triple-A munis correct from recent outperformance relative to taxables. USTs were firmer, while equities were up near the close. Triple-A benchmarks rose 11 to 15 basis points on the one-year and three to eight basis points in two

With the plan of adjustment hearing for the Puerto Rico Highways and Transportation Authority less than a week away, arguments remain over five legal objections to the plan. Insured bondholders, Puerto Rico’s Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority, HTA wage earners, an insurance company, and a dairy are challenging the plan.  The plan of adjustment

Smaller-sized cities and towns worried they won’t be able to snag a piece of the infrastructure dollars unleashed in the new federal law have until the end of the month to apply for a first-of-its-kind program aimed at boosting their chances. The “specialized training boot camps” led by the National League of Cities will help

The federal infrastructure package will boost Illinois’ six-year transportation spending by $4 billion, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Friday. The state will spend an overall $24.6 billion under the six-year program for roads and bridges with $3.7 billion in spending during the current fiscal year. About $18.8 billion goes to roads with the remainder spent on

California lawmakers’ focus on one-time spending in the budget approved July 1 keeps the state on track for a potential rating upgrade one year out from receiving a positive outlook from S&P, but challenges remain. The state’s fiscal 2023 adopted budget “projects long-term structural balance through fiscal 2026, despite a projected multibillion dollar rise and

Short-end munis sold off Friday as pressure from two-year U.S. Treasury yields as well as rising floating-rate muni yields have begun to hit the triple-A yield curves. Treasuries were better five years and out while equities rallied to close out the week. Triple-A curves saw yields rise by as much as eight to 10 basis

The U.S. House of Representatives Friday sent President Joe Biden a long-debated climate, tax and healthcare bill. The legislation passed with a vote of 220 to 207 along party lines. Biden’s signature will mark the final chapter for an 18-month-long saga marked by intense negotiations among Democrats, who used a parliamentary procedure called reconciliation to

Municipals were weaker on the short end and mutual fund outflows returned Thursday while U.S. Treasuries saw losses across the curve and equities ended mixed. Triple-A curves saw yields rise as much as five basis points on the one-year while leaving yields a basis point weaker to little changed along the rest of the curve

If all goes according to plan, municipal markets will see the largest ESG bond pricing ever next week as Massachusetts prepares to issue $2.7 billion of taxable business-tax backed special obligation revenue bonds. The sale of the socially designated bonds was delayed in July as state lawmakers debated a last-minute spending bill that would allocate